Next month Linn and Benton county residents will be asked to cast their vote on Measure 22-130, requesting taxpayers to foot the bill for vast improvements to four campuses in the LBCC network.
Proposed plans to use the $34 million are expected to not only increase the number of students able to enroll in particular programs, but will also offer more courses in programs already in place.
The Benton Center is set to receive $8 million for expansion of parking and classroom space. The Advanced Transportation Technology Center (ATTC) will get $2 million for additional shop and classroom space, relocating the entire program. The Samaritan Health Systems Campus in Lebanon will aquire a $8.05 million building to accommodate lab and classroom for all healthcare occupations students.
With the transfer of healthcare and ATTC students, the Albany campus will get $12 million to renovate and modernize nearly 200,000 sq. ft. of previously occupied space.
Of the 20,000 enrolled students on all campuses in 2015/16, over 16,000 are Linn and Benton County residents.
The Student Leadership Council (SLC) and the Oregon Student Foundation (OSF) ran a campaign in 2014 with a goal to register 3,000 students to vote in preparation for the November midterm elections. After three terms of combined effort, they exceeded their goal registering over 4,000 students.
With emphasis on Measure 86 appearing on the Oregon ballot allowing the state a certain debt to provide funds to post secondary education students, and locally, Measure 22-130 to decide the fate of the proposed $34 million bond; LBCC student advocates raised awareness on the importance of young people voting.
This term 100 students were polled presenting the question: Is $34 million too much for LBCC to ask from the community? The level of information students had on the exact usage of the proposed bond varied, however nearly a quarter of those asked felt it was indeed too much.
"The taxes are already high for property tax payers, so I don't know if that's the best way to go about it," said student and homeowner Kelly Stoner.
If passed, the bond will not change the payments currently made by homeowners. As bond rates are now, it's designed to maintain the same rate per thousand at .18 cents. Taxpayers will contribute to the proposed $34 million bond until 2032.
Other students were on the fence considering what is already available at LBCC.
"It might be a little too much to ask, but it might be a worthwhile investment if we can open up the opportunity for more classes and the opportunity for people to get better jobs," said student Sarah Tunstill.
When healthcare occupations students and automotive students move from the Albany campus, the ability to refocus on growing programs to benefit the community can then be assessed.
"We've had a lot of backing from area businesses looking for trained employees, so it will give us space for some specific needs," said Dale Stowell, executive director of college advancement.
Other students didn't hesitate by saying the funds for improving education were a need and not a "want" for LBCC.
"This is probably one of the better schools I've been to and I've been impressed with the instructors and the quality of education," said student Jordan Clay. "It's really good for the community and I highly support the funding of education."
If the bond is passed, payments from taxpayers will not start until those from the bond passed in 2000 for $19 million have completed in 2016.
"It's structured so that payments never stack on top of each other, one is paid off and another begins," said Stowell.
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